Umbrella-runner.



F. W HOWARD.

UMBRELLA RUNNER APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28.1914.

Patented June 4, i918.

5 mm Mm Exam Wfizwqwvz $1 in S W n m1 y FRANK w. HOWARD, on NEW Yon'K, 1v. Y.

UMBRELLA-RUNNER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented June 4, 1918.

Application filed. September 28, 1914. Serial No. 863,868.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Umbrella-Rumiers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to umbrellas and particularly to the runners of umbrellas. A principal object of the invention is to produce a runner of very simple construction which will operate effectively and which can be very economically manufactured.

A further object of the invention is to produce a runner having simple means for securing the same to the stick of the umbrella when the umbrella is opened.

Further objects of the invention will appear more clearly hereinafter.

The invention consists in the general combination of parts and features to be described more fully hereinafter all of which contribute to produce an e'liicient umbrella runner.

The preferred embodiment of my invention will be particularly described in the following specification while the broad scope of my invention will be pointed out in the appended claims. 7 In the drawings: Figure l is a side elevation showing, upon of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the sleeve shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of means for cooperating with the sleeve to complete the runner and particularly to enable the runner to be secured to the stick when the umbrella is open.

Fig. 4: is a plan of the part shown in Fi 3.

ig. 5 is a vertical section taken at the lower end of an umbrella, certain parts being broken away and shown in elevation to illustrate further the construction of the that embodied in Fig. 3, said means preferably. comprising a device 18 formed of wire. This device forms a feature of the inventlon set forth in my CO-PGIlCllll apphcation 1 T a Serial m o. (86,84cl. This wire device preferably includes a contractible helical coil 19 formed of a number of wraps or turns of wire, the end wrap at one end being preferably bent up and around to form an extension or finger piece 20. A wrap at the other end of the coil extends circumferentially aroundtlie axis of the sleeve and past the finger piece 20, and is bentto form a similar extension or finger piece 21 opposite the finger piece 20; and these finger pieces are arranged so that if they are pressed toward each other they tend to open the coil so that it will relax or release its grip.

The finger piece 21 is preferably formed with an upward extension 22 which terminates in a simple ring 23. The upper edge of the-collar 12 is attached to this ring 23 by a greatly enlarged l a preferred embodi- ,'.bending the ends of the tongues 16 around ment of a sleeve which constitutes a feature.

the ring, (see Fig. 5). In this way, the col lar is attached to the ring and the gaps 15 leave portions of the ring 23 exposed so as to form. points of attachment for the stretchers 17. 1 Of course, the tongues 16 hold the stretchers in proper position on the circumference of the ring, that is, they cannot sliparound on the ring. The coil 19 is disposed around the body 11 of the sleeve and preferably normally exerts a contractile force upon the same which prevents the runner being slid along on the stick.

The crown of the umbrella may be constructed in any desired manner and the stretchers may be attached to the ribs 24 in any suitable manner.

If the finger pieces 20 and 21 are pressed together, the grip of the coil and sleeve on the stick will be released permitting the runner to slide freely; and the umbrella can then be opened so as to extend the ribs 24 and the cover 25. When the umbrella has been opened in this Way, if the finger pieces 20 and 21 are released, the coil 19 will immediately press on the sleeve body 11 and cause the same to grip the stick and in this way lock the runner to the stick so as to hold the umbrella open.

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention described above is only one of the many forms or embodiments the invention may take, and I do not Wish to be limited in the practice of my invention, nor in my claims, to the particular embodiment set forth.

What I claim is 1. An umbrella runner consisting of a collapsible sleeve having a collar adjacent one end thereof to cooperate in efiectingconnection with the umbrella stretchers, and a clam ing sleeve formed of Wraps of Wire forming a helical coil surrounding said collapsible sleeve normally exerting a constricting force thereupon to clamp the collapsible sleeve against the stick, said clamping sleeve having an extension from a Wrap at one end of the clamping sleeve constituting a finger piece, and having a wrap at the other end of said clamping sleeve extending circumferentially around the axis of said sleeve and past said finger piece, said last named wrap having an extension constituting a finger piece, said finger pieces disposed opposite to each other and operating when pressed toward each other, to enlarge said clamping sleeve to permit the collapsible sleeve to run freely on the stick.

2. An umbrella runner consisting of a collapsible sleeve having a dollar adjacent one end thereof to cocperate in efi'ecting connection with the umbrella stretcher-s, and a clamping sleeve comprising a ring formed of wire to engage the umbrella stretchers', said ring having a helical coil formed integrally therewith, said coil consisting of a niunber of Wraps of wire surrounding said collapsible sleeve, and normally exerting a constricting force thereupon to clamp the collapsible sleeve against the stick, said clamping sleeve having an extension from nesses.

a wrap at one end of the clamping sleeve constituting a. finger piece, and having a wrap at the other 'end of said clamping sleeve extending circumferentially around ,theaxis of the sleeve and past said finger pi SiliCl last named wrap having an extension constituting a finger piece, said finger pieces disposed opposite to each other and operating when pressed toward each other to enlarge said clamping'sleeve, and thereby permit the collapsible sleeve to run freely on the stick.

3. An umbrella runner consisting of a collapsible sleeve having a collar adjacent one end thereof, said collar having gaps at the edge thereof, and a clamping sleeve comprising a ring formed of Wire to engage the umbrella stretchers, the edge of saidcollar between said gaps being bent around said ring, whereby said collaroperates to hold thestretchers spaced around said ring, said ring having a helical coil formed integrally therewith and consisting of a number of wraps of the wire surrounding said collapsible sleeve and normally exerting constricting force thereupon to clamp the collapsible sleeve against the sticlnsaid clamping sleeve having an extension from a wrap at one end of the clamping sleeve formed of said wire and constituting a finger piece, 7

and having a wrap at the other end of said clamping sleeve extending eircum'ferentially around the axis of the sleeve and past said finger piece, said last named Wrap having an. extension formed of the Wire and constituting a finger piece, said finger pieces disposed opposite to each otherand operating when pressed toward each other to enlarge said clamping sleeve, and thereby permit thecollapsible sleeve to run freely on the stick. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- F'RANK W. HOWARD. liVitnesses:

J osnrrr XV. SMITH,

FLonENon PETE-R's.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained for fiveee-nts each, by addressing the .Gommissioner of Patents, WashIngton I), G. 

